On September 1, 1996 — After Baltimore manager Davey Johnson has his bat removed in the 5th inning‚ Seattle SS Alex Rodriguez borrows a bat from Ken Griffey and belts a 3-run homer to lead the Mariners to a 5 – 1 win over the O’s. A-Rod’s 34th home run pins the loss on David Wells.
“They tried to frustrate Alex a little bit,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said. “Alex, at 21, is not frustratable. Is there such a word? We’ll have to put it in the dictionary.”
With Rodriguez batting in the fifth inning, Johnson asked home plate umpire Ted Barrett to take away Rodriguez’s bat. After Barrett removed the bat, Rodriguez used one that Ken Griffey Jr. handed him from the dugout and hit his 34th homer.
Rodriguez, who went two for three to raise his American League-leading average to .376, 28 points ahead of Chicago’s Frank Thomas, said he began using Griffey’s 31-ounce bats when Griffey went on the disabled list in June. Rodriguez also doubled to move past teammate Edgar Martinez for the major-league lead with 49 doubles.
“Actually, I thought it was very flattering,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been watching Davey Johnson manage for many years. It was flattering. Me? A shortstop with a corked bat? I thought it was pretty sweet.”
Johnson admitted his move was a reaction to Piniella, who had demanded that Bobby Bonilla’s bat be checked after he singled in the fourth inning. Bonilla had homered in the second inning, Baltimore’s 10th homer of the series.
“Lou probably did it to screw with Bobby,” Johnson said. “I definitely did it to screw with Alex. It didn’t work, but I did it.”
Piniella denied he was trying a psychological ploy with Bonilla, who hit four home runs in the series.
Bonilla didn’t deny his bat was corked.
“If they find something wrong with it, I’m getting suspended,” he said. “But what if they don’t? I’m out using my bat the rest of the game. What kind of rule is that?”
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